Jharkhand Wrestler Poonam Oraon Overcomes Injury to Win Gold

Chhattisgarh (IANS): In a sport as physically demanding as wrestling, a shoulder injury often signals the end of a career. However, Jharkhand wrestler Poonam Oraon turned that risk into a golden opportunity. Despite battling intense pain in every match, she secured the gold medal at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, completing an inspiring comeback.

Every tackle in the women’s 50kg final forced the 19-year-old to wince as her old injury flared up. Poonam first dislocated her shoulder at age 10, and the chronic pain resurfaced just before her championship bout. After heavily strapping her left shoulder to remain in the competition, she pushed through the agony to defeat Telangana’s K. Geetha and claim her first-ever national-level gold.

“How could I give up?” Poonam told SAI Media after her victory. “I have struggled with injuries since the start of my career, but I never quit. This injury is nothing compared to the pain of not winning gold for nine years.”

Hailing from Suiyabar village in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, Poonam began her wrestling journey in 2017. A severe dislocation sidelined her for nearly a year shortly after she started. While she secured bronze medals at the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) nationals in 2018 and 2019, the top spot on the podium remained elusive until now.

Poonam admitted she wasn’t fully fit entering the tournament. While her family initially urged her not to compete, her coaches in Ranchi believed in her resilience. Currently balancing her wrestling career with a BA in Political Science at Ranchi University, Poonam now sets her sights on the Junior Nationals.

“My next target is to qualify for the Junior Nationals,” she added. “I want to continue this golden run in every event I enter.”